Classic Mini - Basic Ignition Timing | Distributor Install

[@kevinevison3117]

Hi.just come across this.when you were talking about rotary arm position you did make me smile.knowing that the bottom of distributor is off set.but at least you are doing your best having ago.great.kevin.been doing this for 50yrs.

[@ClassicCarCave]

Tom, You need to take the helical drive for the oil pump out with a bolt and rotate it as the slot for the dizzy drive is 180 degs out the key ways have small & large slots, This was done to cut the engine if the oil pump failed. Cheers Dave

[@ralfkah3]

Great help! One advice: When you're refering to the valves/rocket cover, please show them :-)

[@minitom7772]

Ralf Kühnapfel thanks for the feed back. This is something I noticed at editing stage, however it was too late to correct at that point. But you’re absolutely right. Thanks for the comment

[@belleandmeg]

Hi tom. Had the same problem of 180 degrees out with my new powerspark electronic distributor. So yes put leads on either number one at lower point. Someone said to take the roll pin out and turn drive dog through 180 degrees. But didn't want to chance it. Good to see its not only my dizzy 180 out. Top job.

[@minitom7772]

belleandmeg if it works it works! Absolutely no harm in keeping it that way. Although I think I’d rather change the drive gear around than try knock out that roll pin. Good call on that one 👍🏻

[@markpiper8082]

The dizzy has an off set slot if you wish to remover the drive i think the lower rad bolt fits in the centre of the drive to remove it safely. Then refit 180° 👍👍

[@minitom7772]

mark piper I was wondering, I checked I but couldn’t notice anything so it must be very subtle. Thanks for the heads up though pal. It’s back out at the minute as I’m painting it so I’ll correct the drive before I re-fit it.

[@sixtiesfan11]

Thanks Tom, going to go out now and fit my refurb dizzy onto my Triumph 2000 :)

[@minitom7772]

great news, triumph 2000, my old neighbour years ago used to have one, he sold it and bought a spitfire instead, another nice car

[@Sternhammer89]

I know this is a three year old video, but I found it looking for the same info - how to fit a distributor on correctly. In the video you have found TDC but not on the compression stroke for cylinder 1, that's why the Rotor Arm and ergo the Distributor shaft is 180 degrees out. AFAIK you would need to rotate the engine another full turn so that the rockers on cylinder 1 on on the rock (both loose). This is when cylinder 1 is on its compression stroke and thats when the rotor arm should be pointing to cylinder 1. The way you have done it will work but you would need the HT lead for cylinder 1 in the non standard position - bottom left.

[@magicsadan6515]

Thank Tom.appreciate the info.I'm going to start my Wolseley now with great confidence. By the way,the slot can be changed 180* using a long bolt,but take care it does not dall into the sump,though!

[@dru0pa]

Nice work on showing me how to find TDC as I as not sure. Thank you

[@thedjse]

Really enjoyed that pal... great info will be using that to bench test mine pal

[@minitom7772]

thedjse cheers pal, glad you found it of use

[@186scott]

Little tip if you find the distributors worm gear drive shaft is 180° out the long cylinder head stud on a minis engine threads into it making it easier to remove and reinstall the correct way

[@TheGentlemensMotorRacingTeam]

Another epic episode mate 👍

[@minitom7772]

The Gentlemen's Motor Racing Team thank you very much Mr Kev

[@justanotherrandomperson1359]

i’d recommend electronic ignition i did it on my mini and i was amazed by the difference

[@minitom7772]

I did do this conversion around January of this year and you’re absolutely right, the difference is night and day

[@classic1989mini]

Which make did you buy, it's on my to-do-list to get one.

[@Shiznit304]

to fix the 180 degree offset issue, you simply open up the distributor and flip the mechanical advance part 180 degrees.

[@carl88norris]

Thanks for the video mate.

[@bolti1000]

No no need to remove this idea until you know what you are talking about. The distributor shaft has a off set dog and not a worm. The reason why the distributor won’t go in is because it will only go in one way due to the off set. Don’t confuse people

[@iamkahnween8888]

Hey Mini Tom great work!!!! Have an issue with my dizzy setup on my late A+ series, took it out for a strange noise, then put it back as shown on manual but car does start any more :( . I have the large slot dizzy drive! I would really appreciate some of your lights thanks much

[@minitom7772]

Sounds like you could have put it back in 180 degrees out or your firing order is incorrect, plug leads on correctly. Make sure the static timing is right first by making sure the rotor is at 2 o’clock position whilst piston 1 is at TDC, make sure the rockers on piston 4 are on the rock at the time and this will confirm you have top dead centre. Hope this helps

[@iamkahnween8888]

@@minitom7772 Thanks for you response, but I have done all this already, but nothing! I think somewhere I have seen like the late A series do not have the same setup, but do not remember where :(

[@terrencedowling9638]

Hi, so when number 4 is on the rock where are the dimples on cam cogs????

[@darrensnook546]

the drive shaft was 180 off.

[@hefinjones6213]

Where exactly did you connect the jump cables too please - both sides?

[@khanshaab9]

Are the ignition leads in the same place if 180 degrees out

[@AWilliamBishop]

Tom, these videos are so fuckinggg helpful dude...mines awkward as to get at beacuse it's in the car 😞 I've tried loads with mine not starting, have petrol, have spark to leads and plugs, coils fine and distributor seems alright, puzzled mate

[@minitom7772]

that does seem strange, the other things to check if you haven’t already done so in the 2 months it’s taken for me to reply (sorry about that) would be to check compression and that the timing is set as close as it can be. hope you got it sorted anyway

[@hermanerago7276]

How did u solve your startup issue? I have the same problem.

[@DrPococksMagicPills]

It's not a quarter. It's one and four at tdc